Nares Strait

Nares Strait is the narrow sea passage separating northern Greenland from Ellesmere Island in the high Arctic, located near 80° north. It is an important Arctic channel linking waters to the north and south and has been a focus of 19th and 20th-century Arctic exploration.

The strait comprises several linked channels and basins that run roughly north-south between the two landmasses. Notable named stretches include Robeson Channel, Hall Basin, Kennedy Channel and Smith Sound. The waterway is several hundred kilometres long and is characterised by heavy sea-ice and iceberg presence for much of the year.

Surveying and exploration of the strait took place during 19th-century Arctic expeditions; it was later named for the British naval officer Sir George Nares. The channel has been used historically as a route for sea-ice export from the Arctic Ocean and figured in polar exploration and mapping efforts.

Geographically it lies in the high Arctic between northern Greenland (east) and Ellesmere Island, Nunavut (west). The area is extremely remote, with only a few small Arctic settlements and research stations in the wider region.

• High Arctic location: Sits at roughly 80° north latitude and forms part of the maritime boundary between Canada (Nunavut) and Greenland (Denmark).
• Ice conditions: Sea ice and icebergs commonly block the channel for much of the year, limiting navigation to brief seasonal windows and occasional icebreaker transit.

What to See #

• Major channels: A series of connected channels and basins running north-south between northern Greenland and Ellesmere Island, including Robeson Channel, Hall Basin, Kennedy Channel and Smith Sound.